T. C. Boyle is a master storyteller and the stories in this collection are as good as you'll find.
Another very good collection of stories by T.C. Boyle. I've read several of Boyle's novels and some of his stories and always seem to enjoy them. This collection had some real gems included with a few that didn't quite do it for me. The title story, GREASY LAKE, was one of my favorites about a group of ruffians who try to kill a thug and rape his girlfriend but then get the tables turned on them.
I also enjoyed:
CAVIAR, about a fisherman and his wife who use a surrogate when the wife cannot get pregnant. Then the husband falls for the surrogate who happens to already be involved with their doctor who set up the pregnancy for them.
THE HECTOR QUESADILLA STORY about an aged baseball player who plays in the longest game ever.
THE NEW MOON PARTY about a politician who gets elected president with the promise of building and putting in orbit a new moon that will outshine the one we have now. Well he keeps his promise but things go terribly wrong when the moon is unveiled! This one could have been a takeoff on President Trump and his wall...
STONES IN MY PASSWAY, HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL. This one was a short history of the legendary blues singer and guitar player, Robert Johnson, giving a take on how he died at a very young age.
ALL SHOOK UP about an Elvis impersonator and his wife who has an affair with their neighbor, a high school guidance counselor.
A BIRD IN THE HAND. Two part story with the first taking place in 1980 where a farm gets overwhelmed by 10 million starlings. The second part takes place in 1890 and tells the true story of how starlings were introduced into America by Eugene Schiefflin and the American Acclimatization Society who wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare into America.
Most of the other stories in this volume were also worth reading with a couple of exceptions. Boyle always comes through for me and I will be reading more of his works that I have missed.
I also enjoyed:
CAVIAR, about a fisherman and his wife who use a surrogate when the wife cannot get pregnant. Then the husband falls for the surrogate who happens to already be involved with their doctor who set up the pregnancy for them.
THE HECTOR QUESADILLA STORY about an aged baseball player who plays in the longest game ever.
THE NEW MOON PARTY about a politician who gets elected president with the promise of building and putting in orbit a new moon that will outshine the one we have now. Well he keeps his promise but things go terribly wrong when the moon is unveiled! This one could have been a takeoff on President Trump and his wall...
STONES IN MY PASSWAY, HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL. This one was a short history of the legendary blues singer and guitar player, Robert Johnson, giving a take on how he died at a very young age.
ALL SHOOK UP about an Elvis impersonator and his wife who has an affair with their neighbor, a high school guidance counselor.
A BIRD IN THE HAND. Two part story with the first taking place in 1980 where a farm gets overwhelmed by 10 million starlings. The second part takes place in 1890 and tells the true story of how starlings were introduced into America by Eugene Schiefflin and the American Acclimatization Society who wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare into America.
Most of the other stories in this volume were also worth reading with a couple of exceptions. Boyle always comes through for me and I will be reading more of his works that I have missed.
